We’re only in February and already hot cross buns are lining supermarket shelves. Due to the effects of COVID and increased demand, holiday accommodation has become more competitive than ever. And the team at Australian holiday rentals Stayz is warning Aussies to book early if they want to ensure they get their desired property before it books out.
We’re not saying you should do away with your spur-of-the-moment adventures, but sometimes it really does pay to book in early if you don’t want to be hit with huge demand increases, especially for Easter and Christmas holidays this year.
“Travellers are booking much further in advance than previous years,” says Stayz travel expert Daniel Finch.
“Waiting too long to book your holiday home can make or break snagging a coveted cottage in wine country for the Easter break or summer beach house for that annual end of year holiday.”
Read: Get the best travel deal with these holiday booking tips
If you haven’t already booked the accommodation for your Easter break, you’ll need to bust a move. Here are the key dates to mark in your diary:
1. Easter long weekend: book by 13 February.
2. King’s Birthday long weekend (12 June): book by 4 May.
3. Winter school holidays: book by 14 May.
4. Spring school holidays: book by 25 August.
5. Christmas holidays: book by 16 July.
As usual, the most sought-after properties in popular beach destinations, including the NSW North Coast and Queensland’s Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, tend to book up more quickly and earlier than other spots. In some of those east coast destinations, less than half of Stayz-listed holiday homes are still available for this Easter.
Read: Nine cruises you need to book in advance
But there are still plenty of attractive destinations with good availability for Easter, including NSW’s Central Coast and Snowy Mountains, Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland, and South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula.
So if you want to avoid disappointment, book your holiday accommodation before the dates listed above.
Do you have any holidays booked already for this year? Do you usually go away for Easter, or do you like to stay at home? Let us know in the comments section below.
